My Rig Expert AA-230 Broke!

When I was evaluating who I was going to purchase my Rig Expert from, I spent some time studying up on which vendor I should buy from.  You can get them from DX Engineering, PNC Engineering, Amazon, Giga Parts, etc.  I chose to order from PNC Engineering because of this statement from their website. (italics added for emphasis)

Why Buy From PNC Engineering?

PNC Engineering covers all RigExpert Analyzers under our United States “in-house” warranty center. Out of warranty repairs may also be contracted through PNC Engineering. RigExpert products purchased from other vendors must be serviced in Canada or in the Ukraine where RigExpert Analyzers are manufactured. This will require the customer to pay the shipping costs of their product to one of those out of country locations. With PNC Engineering your shipping expenses are considerably less, and shipping times much faster due to our ‘local’ U.S. location. 

I mentioned in my initial assessment of the analyzer that it had given me infinite readings initially.  Being a newb to this tool, I just assumed that I had neglected to fasten the N to SO-239 adapter correctly.  I finally got it to give me a flat reading on a dummy load and was happy with the measurements.

My friend Myron WV0H mailed me a few N adapters and 50 ohm loads.  No longer would I need to do SO-239 to PL-259 to BNC.  The adapter stack was getting out of control. . . So I connected the N to SMA and an SMA 50 ohm load.  Infinite SWR.  Hmmm. . .  Well, the loads are ham fest deals so maybe its a dud.  Lets try another.

Infinite.

OK. . . lets do a dummy load I know works.  So I do the N to BNC adapter.  Then a short coax jump to my dummy load.

Infinite.

OK. . . lets do a known adapter stack that has worked previously.

Your guess is correct.  Infinite!

Then I started loosening the threads on the N connector and I got an accurate reading.  Hmmm. . . this is not good.

**********Do NOT EVER do what I am about to do***********

I turn off the machine.  I take the adapter stack off and look down into the N connector.  All looks normal.  I then take a screw driver and make contact with the center pin.  It moves!!  It moves a lot and I am not putting any effort into touching it.

******You CAN DO everything below this line safely************

So I fire off an email to PNC Engineering.  They send back a form letter that is intimidating.  I kindly respond with the situation and assure them I’m going to mail this thing back for repair under warranty.  A few pages of paperwork and $20 in mailing and insurance later, the device is in the mail to California.

A few days go by and I get a confirmation they received it.  The next day I get a note that they are going to repair it under warranty and send me a new one.  I am looking forward to it arriving!

So. . . I’m hear to tell you that PNC Engineering is good to their word.  (Although the shipping time is a week)  It’s possible I could have just returned it via Amazon and bought another.  Maybe I’m not getting a great deal since I had to pay shipping.  I really like the device and have LOTS of plans to measure stuff and report back!

KF5RY